Senior Congress leader V D Satheesan on Monday took oath as the Chief Minister of Kerala at a ceremony held in Thiruvananthapuram following the Congress-led United Democratic Front’s decisive victory in the Assembly elections.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan, who was elected leader of the Congress Legislative Party after the UDF secured a clear mandate in the recently concluded Assembly polls.
Satheesan took oath in the name of God at the swearing-in ceremony attended by senior Congress leaders, representatives of alliance partners and thousands of party workers from across the state.
20-member Cabinet sworn in alongside Satheesan
Along with the Chief Minister, members of the new 20-member Cabinet were also sworn in during the event. The ministry includes senior Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, K Muraleedharan, A P Anil Kumar and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sunny Joseph.
Leaders from UDF allies also joined the Cabinet, including senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty, RSP leader Shibu Baby John, Kerala Congress leader Mons Joseph, Kerala Congress (Jacob) leader Anoop Jacob and CMP leader C P John.
Cabinet sees several first-time ministers
The new ministry includes 14 fresh faces, including Satheesan himself, who is assuming executive office for the first time despite representing Paravur Assembly constituency since 2001.
Among the first-time ministers are Congress leaders P C Vishnunadh, Roji M John, Bindu Krishna, T Siddique, K A Thulasi and O J Janeesh.
IUML leaders N Shamsuddin, K M Shaji, P K Basheer and V E Abdul Gafoor are also among the new entrants to the ministry.
The Cabinet includes two women ministers and two members from the Scheduled Caste community.
Congress leadership attends swearing-in ceremony
The swearing-in ceremony witnessed the presence of several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states, senior Left leaders and BJP representatives also attended the event. Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was among the prominent leaders present at the ceremony.
As ministers took oath one after another, large crowds of UDF supporters gathered at the venue cheered loudly. Thousands of Congress workers had travelled from different parts of Kerala to attend the ceremony in the state capital.
UDF secured sweeping victory in Kerala Assembly polls
The Kerala Assembly elections for the 140-member House were held on April 9, with counting conducted on May 4.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front won 102 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark and returning to power in the state. The Left Democratic Front secured 35 seats, while the BJP won three constituencies.
(With inputs from Agencies)